TWO

Darcy put down the papers that he had already neglected for too long. He could hardly keep his mind on anything since he returned to London. His plan to forget Elizabeth by creating distance between them had failed, and his mind was filled with thoughts about her, just as had happened during his stay at Netherfield. His sleep was equally disturbed too, by dreams he refused to acknowledge, and the lack or rest made him anxious and annoyed all the time.

"Dear brother, you will not believe what happened!" Georgiana said joyfully as she entered the library. "Am I disturbing you?"

"You never disturb me. Surely you do not have to ask! Please come in and sit down. I am glad to see you in such an excellent disposition. I assume you enjoyed yourself with our aunt."

"I did, but I must tell you something quite astonishing. A most entertaining coincidence."

"Do tell," Darcy said, pleased with his sister's enthusiasm. He had rarely seen Georgiana so lively in recent years.

"Well, as our carriage drove down Park Lane, we almost hit some ladies, who were walking."

"Oh…?"

"Yes! It gave us a fright, but fortunately, nothing bad happened. Our aunt stopped the carriage and went to speak to them. And, as it happened, one of the ladies had grown up in Lambton and she knew Aunt Matlock. She was also well acquainted with our parents!"

"How lovely, indeed."

"Oh, but there is much more. As our aunt spoke to her, the lady introduced us to her two nieces. Can you guess who they were?"

"I certainly cannot! But I am glad you are amused."

"Well, I should keep you intrigued a little longer, but I cannot. Her nieces were Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. From Longbourn, Hertfordshire! The same Bennets you wrote to me about in your letters!"

The girl paused, evidently eager to witness his response, but Darcy was stunned, struggling for air. He prayed it was a joke — as unreasonable as such an expectation was.

"My aunt said it is quite impossible that, of all the people in London, we should happen upon someone who grew up near Pemberley and who is related to someone you are acquainted with! And yet, the impossible occurred!"

"The impossible occurred, indeed," Darcy replied absently, distracted by his thoughts.

"Aunt Matlock was pleased with Mrs Gardiner, and she invited her for tea. I confess I am always happy to meet someone who has met our parents. I have so few memories of Mama that I wish to hear as much about her as possible."

"I know, my dear," Darcy said affectionately.

"I wonder whether you have met Mrs Gardiner? Probably not — she must be at least ten years older than you. Her name was Madeleine Martin. She is the cousin of Mr Martin, who owns the inn."

"Is she?"

Georgiana's lively voice contrasted with his disposition, which lowered with every moment.

He did not remember anyone with that name, but that did not even matter. Lady Matlock had invited Elizabeth's aunt for tea. That must have been the aunt who lived near Cheapside — Miss Bingley had said so a while ago. What was she doing in Hyde Park? Surely Elizabeth had desired to take a walk — that was her pleasure. Of all the carriages in London and all the people in London, the fact that they had met was extraordinary.

"Yes, she is. Mr Martin and his family are good people. Mrs Reynolds always says so."

"They are. That I can agree upon."

"Brother, so they are the Bennet family you mentioned to me, are they not?"

"If they told you they live at Longbourn, Hertfordshire, then yes, they must be."

"But, Brother, are you upset about something? Aunt Matlock said you would be amused, but I feel you are not entertained."

"I am entertained, dearest. Only a little bit surprised, as you said."

"Richard said he would come for dinner tonight," Georgiana continued.

"Good. I shall finish my letters by then."

Georgiana left and — as never before — Darcy felt relieved by her departure. He still struggled to understand the bewildering news and to estimate the sort of consequences that fortuitous meeting would have. How long would Elizabeth be in London? At least until after the New Year, certainly. Why else would she come to London during Christmastime if not to spend it with her relatives?

There should not be much danger of him meeting her, since they lived a significant distance apart; but coincidences could happen. And what if Mrs Gardiner accepted Lady Matlock's invitation for tea? Would she take her nieces too? Would Georgiana meet them again?

And what about Miss Jane Bennet and Bingley? Bingley had been in a poor disposition lately, and he was still thinking of Hertfordshire — that was apparent. That simple encounter in the park could alter their lives dramatically.

Another thought that crossed his mind was related to Wickham. Elizabeth seemed to have been on friendly terms with the reprobate and trusted his claims. That was obvious from their harsh discussion at the Netherfield ball, the first and last time he had danced with her.

That scoundrel was in Meryton, at liberty to spread all sorts of falsehoods, and surely Elizabeth had trusted him even more as time passed. He panicked imagining that Elizabeth might meet Georgiana again and — in ignorance — mention something about Wickham. Georgiana's distress was still vivid and tormented her enough without any further news about that villain.

Darcy could not settle his mind enough to write his letters — to Mrs Reynolds at Pemberley and to his solicitors. The Matlocks' youngest son — Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam — arrived for dinner as promised, and they had a pleasant-enough evening, though Darcy's thoughts returned to Elizabeth often.

"My mother told me about her unexpected meeting," the colonel suddenly said. "Was the Miss Bennet they encountered the one you told me that Bingley admired?"

Darcy choked on his drink, while Georgiana's expression revealed her curiosity.

"Yes, but this is not a subject for dinner conversation and certainly not in the presence of Georgiana and Mrs Annesley."

"I apologise, Darcy. I was not aware that there was an inappropriate story behind it."

Georgiana looked puzzled now, and Darcy could not end the conversation abruptly, leaving his sister with the wrong impression.

"There is nothing inappropriate. Bingley did admire Miss Jane Bennet, but he came to realise she did not return his feelings. It happens all the time, even in the most honourable families."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," Georgiana replied. "Miss Bennet is the one with fair hair, is she not? She is very beautiful, and our aunt said she seemed to possess a sweet nature."

"She is beautiful, and yes, she probably does possess a sweet nature. I saw nothing wanting in her manners. It was probably not meant to be. Some things happen — others do not."

Even to himself, his voice sounded a little harsher than it should; the colonel did not enquire further, and Georgiana became more interested in her food. Then the conversation turned to the weather and Lady Matlock's forthcoming party.

Georgiana retired after dinner, claiming both she and Mrs Annesley were tired. The colonel did not seem in any hurry to leave, and Darcy offered him a drink and a cigar.

"So, now that we are alone, I hope you will trust me enough to tell me the truth about Miss Bennet."

Darcy choked again, spilling some brandy on himself. "What do you mean?"

"The story of Bingley and Miss Bennet. When you returned, you told me that you saved Bingley from a disadvantageous marriage to a young woman about whom there were several objections. Now you claim Bingley realised that the lady — whom my mother and your sister just met — did not return his feelings. Which is true?"

"Both," Darcy answered after a brief hesitation. "Bingley was so enchanted with Miss Bennet that he was blinded to the truth. She is exceedingly beautiful, and he is easily charmed, as we both know. He has been in love at least five times in the last two years."

"And?"

"And the lady seemed to receive his admiration with pleasure, but her countenance was always serene. She smiled at him in the same way she smiled at everyone else. And the mother is truly insupportable. She has no respect for decorum but does have an obsession with marrying off her daughters, who have no dowry and no connections. Mrs Bennet presented a spectacle that was difficult to bear. And I am sure Miss Jane Bennet would have been somehow forced to accept Bingley, despite her lack of feelings for him."

"Darcy, I must say you seem very much involved in this situation. May I ask why Bingley's or Miss Bennet's feelings are your concern?"

"Bingley is my friend, Richard. He is a good man and deserves to be happy. It was my duty to warn him against a marriage that would not be equal in any way."

"But she is a gentleman's daughter, and he is the son of a tradesman. She might not have a dowry or any useful connections, but he has the money she lacks. As for happiness — its meaning is different for each of us."

"Yes, she is a gentleman's daughter. It is not only that she lacks money and connections…there is more that I cannot clearly explain."

"Is there?"

Darcy felt his cousin's intense stare, scrutinising him with obvious puzzlement.

"Darcy, there is something that worries me and must be said, even if it will anger you."

"Then say it and be done with this subject."

"I have known you all your life, and as good as you are at concealing your feelings from people in general, you cannot hide much from me. You certainly have a peculiar interest in this story. I feel that you put great effort into convincing Bingley that this miss would not ensure his happiness in marriage. You seem as if you deliberately separated them, and that is strange. Could it be that you also admire this Miss Bennet and do not wish to allow Bingley to have her?"

The colonel ended with a voice filled with gravity, but Darcy breathed with relief at his cousin's wrong guess.

"Oh, this is plain stupid, Richard. I have not the slightest interest in Miss Jane Bennet. It makes me laugh that you assumed I did."

He sipped from his glass. "However, I might have put too much effort into presenting Bingley with my opinion on this matter. But I did it only in his best interest and after a thorough examination of Miss Bennet's behaviour towards him. Especially at the Netherfield ball, when her mother spoke loudly about Bingley marrying her daughter and finding husbands for the other four sisters."

"There are five sisters with no dowry? Poor Mrs Bennet! I am almost sympathetic to her." The colonel laughed. "You are quite unfair on the lady. There are many mothers with fewer daughters and far more money who are still obsessed with finding them husbands."

"I am glad you are entertained, Richard."

"I confess I am. And relieved that my guess was wrong. Let us hope Bingley will fall in love with another pretty face soon and will forget Miss Bennet. That would prove you were right, and I know how much you like to be."

Although accustomed to his cousin's teasing, this time Darcy felt uncomfortable. He had told only half the truth, and if he was honest with himself, he had to admit he might have become too involved in the matter. If he had been right, he had no cause to repent. However, if he had misjudged Bingley's feelings or Miss Jane Bennet's, he would have to live with guilt and remorse.

"Oh, there is something you should know, Darcy. When my mother related her encounter with the Miss Bennets to me, I was surprised and amused, and I told her what I knew about Miss Bennet and Bingley. What you had previously told me, of course."

"I wished you had not done that, Richard," Darcy replied with irritation. "It was a private conversation we shared, not public knowledge."

"I am sorry if I overstepped. But you never told me the matter required secrecy, and when we first discussed it, it seemed of little importance. I would not have revealed it to a stranger, but I found it amusing to add to the coincidences mother kept speaking of."

"I do not find the situation amusing in any way. I hope no reports reach Miss Bennet or Bingley and offend or hurt either of them."

"I hope we can both trust in my mother's privacy and wisdom."

"I do not wish discussions of this kind in the presence of Georgiana. She is still rather sensitive when it comes to relationships."

"I understand. I am sure my mother is capable of acting with the proper delicacy."

"I am only worried about minor indiscretions on your mother's part. What surprises me is that I have trusted you with many secrets throughout our lives and you have never betrayed my confidence. What came over you to gossip about Bingley and Miss Bennet with your mother? I cannot understand it."

"I accept the blame, Darcy, and I shall remedy it."

After the colonel left and he retired to his bed-chamber, things became even worse for Darcy. He recollected all the instances on which he had based his estimation of Miss Bennet's feelings, including his conversations with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst.

A sense of panic ruined his rest; he began wondering whether it was possible that his own interest in Miss Bennet had been his main reason, after all.

The other Miss Bennet, from whom he had tried to run away. Could he have insisted on taking Bingley away from Hertfordshire to avoid his marriage to Miss Jane Bennet because it would have placed Elizabeth Bennet in his close circle of friends? Could he have been so selfish as to toy with his friend's happiness because of his cowardice?